Kay Frel's Ministry

The purpose of this blog is to celebrate Kay's life and pass on her teachings, wisdom, and love. If you would like to post something to this blog, email Jennifer Powell Storz (Powell_Jennifer@att.net) and you will be added as an author - there is no limit to how many people can author this blog! You can post once, daily, yearly, or anytime you would like. Please post comments, thoughts, stories, teachings, photos, etc-anything that is special about Kay. Let's carry on the torch of Kay together!

Special Note

Several of Kay's lessons and teachings can be found in this blog. Please scroll through the posts.If you see something you would like to utilize, please copy and paste the content for yourself.Be sure to check the Blog Archive (to the right) and the Older Posts (on the bottom of the page) too.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Blood Drive Dedicated to Kay Frels

This article was published in the Jackson-County Herald on Wednesday, November 7, 2012

As
we get into the holiday season, several local entities want to make sure there
is an opportunity to give thanks by giving.

“Thanks for Giving,” a
community blood drive will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 21 at the Brackenridge
Main Event Center, hosted by Lavaca-Navidad River Authority, Jackson Electric
Cooperative, Edna Rotary Club, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, and the
First United Methodist Church of Edna.

“November, December and
January are very tight times for area hospitals that count on the South Texas
Blood and Tissue Center for their blood supply,” said Roy Griffin, general
manager of Jackson Electric Cooperative. “With the holiday rush, potential
donors can be too busy to drop in for their normal donation.”

In the past, JEC has held a
blood drive at its offices on the day before Thanksgiving.

"The day before any major
holiday is a very non-productive time so we “bribe” our potential donors by
allowing them time off on that day after they donate,” he said.

Griffin and the other
sponsors hope by holding the blood drive on the day before Thanksgiving to
encourage many in the community to take time to donate blood before the
holiday.

JEC’s blood drive often
produced 25 to 30 units of blood, according to Griffin. By opening the drive to
the community and holding it at the BRC, his goal is to collect up to 200
units.

Those who have benefited from
blood donations in the past are invited to drop by and thank the donors. Those
who are unable to give for medical reasons or otherwise are also encouraged to
go and express their gratitude.

“We are also asking groups in
the community to bring cookies and other treats as an expression of thanks for
those who give,” Griffin added.

This year the blood drive is
dedicated to Kay Frels, a beloved member of the community and employee of JEC
who died unexpectedly earlier this year. Frels coordinated the drives and JEC
and worked with LNRA on its drives.

“She represented what we wish
to acknowledge with this drive,” Griffin said. Future drives will honor other
active donors, he added.

Donors may show up between 9
a.m. - 3 p.m. or schedule their donation by calling Missie Landry at 771-4425
or 782-7193.

Monday, November 12, 2012

By
Paul Harrison, Staff Writer, Jackson County Herald-Tribune

What impact does one life
make? Kay Frels passed away this past May, having touched lives just being
herself, and among those she touched and changed were a trio of women brought
together by an echo of her impact on their lives. Jennifer Storz, Tyanne
Rakowitz and Monica Bard are now reaching out to the entire Gulf Coast and
Crossroads area women the way they were reached by Kay.

The ladies formed God’s GALS
- Growing And Learning Servants of Christ - and are holding a kick-off ministry
event, a women’s escape in Wharton Nov. 2-3.

“Known to God, but not to us,
Kay had planted and watered seeds in all three of us,” said Bard.

“Frels’ passing gave
clarity,” said Storz. “Tyanne and I both had stirrings of the spirit of doing
something, but weren’t sure what direction.”

“Women need encouragement as
never before in today’s society,” said Rakowitz. “So, our emphasis is to reach
out to all women, in all seasons of life.”

By putting the conference in
Wharton, they are hoping God’s GALS reaches as wide an area as possible.

“We hope to offer opportunities
to do things online as well as face to face,” said Storz. “We find there are
not that many opportunities for women in rural communities to come together for
retreats.”

Usually, travel becomes an
issue with retreats in Houston or Austin, and small children and elderly
parents have to be taken into consideration, points out Rakowitz.

“It’s the need we see that
needs to be met (in this area),” Storz said of starting with an area-wide
scope. “It’s different when it’s just one person trying to do something
large-scale, but the three of us are very connected to the community in our
three separate towns. In addition to hopefully growing our board and bringing
in more interest, we have the support in place to at least get started.”

The escape is only the leading
edge of what they hope to get started, with considerations for Bible studies,
classes on home organization, finances and balancing priorities and a prayer
group, depending on feedback from the conference.

“Sometimes you have to think
big and go out of your comfort zone in order to really make things happen,”
smiled Storz.

“We’ve worked on different
aspects going on during the retreat itself,” said Rakowitz. “It’s fellowship
and fun, but still feeling His presence and just connecting with other Christian
women. I don’t think women do that enough. We put ourselves on the back burner,
especially moms. Everything comes in front of ourselves.

“We feel like this is an
opportunity for people to step away from the busy-ness of their lives and just
be in His presence.”

The gals of God’s GALS say
they’ve felt God’s hand in the planning and set up of the retreat.

“Of course it takes hard work
and creativity and a commitment of time for each other and for our families,
but all in all it’s been a smooth process,” said Storz. “All of our resources,
everything we’ve needed has just come together.”

All of it has been about
coming together, starting with Kay Frels.

“In her daily life, she had
character and integrity and it showed,” Rakowitz grinned. “She wasn’t afraid to
go up to someone she may not know and share God’s word with them.

“Proverbs 31 that was read at
her funeral brought tears to my eyes because that is the woman I worked so hard
to be. She was that woman.”

To sign up or volunteer for
God’s GALS, visit their website at www.godsgals.org, email info@godsgals.org or look them up on Facebook.
Retreat registration forms are also available at the Jackson County
Herald-Tribune.

Friday, November 9, 2012

The influence of a person’s life goes far beyond their
lifetime! In my experience, I have had many people who have come and gone, but
yet my life is still impacted by the seeds that were sown into my heart! I
would like to mention a very dear precious friend, Kay Frels, who I met in June
of 2011. I didn’t get to know her very long before she went to be with her
Heavenly Father in May of 2012. But the time I did know her, I can honestly
say, that my life will never be the same! The influence that she had on me was
such an inspiration to me, that it caused me to examine myself, and to see who
I really was in God, and what purpose my life was meant to be lived for! I
found out that God’s plan for my life was something far greater than anything I
ever dreamed of! I knew that God had something very special for me to do,
before I met Kay, but it wasn’t until I got to know her, that she instilled
within me, not only a greater passion and desire for the Lord, but a confidence
in pursuing God’s plan for my life! I can honestly say, I had a privilege of
knowing Kay, that many people don’t have; and because of that, my life will
never be the same! What I mean by that is, the impact she had on my life has
affected me for eternity!

I would like to share with you some of the fruit that
has taken place in my life, because of the impact she had on me! Though she
never got to see any of these things, I still believe that her life is
influencing others, including myself, for years to come! For years now I have
always dreamed of being in front of people sharing the good news of Jesus
Christ! I would have dreams at night where I saw multitudes of people that were
in need of someone to share with them the Gospel! How I longed to just
encourage someone with an answer to their needs! If people were hurting, I
wanted to pray for them! If people were sick, how I longed to see those people
receive healing in their body. What ever it was, I just wanted to be a vessel
that would be poured out to be a soothing balm in their life! With a lot of
prayer, a portion of that dream came about this past weekend, and was inspired
by the seeds that she sowed into my life! About 3 or 4 months ago, the Lord
began to deal with me about having a women’s conference at our church! As I
prayed about it and sought the Lord, He began to show me in my mind how it was
all going to fall into place, and I felt like the Lord wanted me to pursue
this! So I approached my Pastor’s wife, Sister Peggy Murff, and I told her of
the vision that I had to have the women’s conference. Immediately she was in
agreement with me. So we planned it all out. This past weekend we had our
conference, and I have to say it was ordained of God. The music was anointed,
and so were the messages that were brought forth! It was followed by some real
good altar time seeking the Lord! Many lives were touched. Many were
encouraged. All because someone, like Kay was willing to be used of the Lord to
touch others. And because I had the privilege of being blessed by her ministry,
I wanted to be a blessing to someone else! I would like to share with you a
poem that was written by Sister Peggy’s sister, entitled “The Woman’s Destiny.”
If ever there was someone who inspired me to walk in the destiny and purpose
that God had for me it was Kay Frels!

Kay Frels was an amazing woman of God. She was a wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, cousin, friend, teacher, leader, and visionary.

Sherry Kay Frels

January 14, 1947-May 1, 2012

Kay Frels was born in Mexia, Texas, on January 14, 1947, to the late Joseph Byrl and Lottie Belle Fenner Myers. She is survived by her husband Don Frels of Edna; step-daughter, Judy Ward of Keller; son, William Darrin Gathright and wife Lisa of League City; step-son, Donnie Frels and wife Suzanne of Hunt;sisters Jan Sawyer of Waco, and Denita Brannon and Husband Hansel of Arlington; brother, Loy Myers and wife Ann of Palestine; and grandchildren, Dustin, Travis and Dillion Gathright all of League City, Will Ward of Keller, andTara and Tori Frels of Hunt.

First United Methodist Church EdnaCertified Lay Speaker & LeaderChair of Administrative Council & member of numerous church committeesSunday School Teacher & Sign Language TeacherPlanner, Coordinator & Teacher for numerous classes & events

Executive Director, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture

Rotary Club of EdnaPresident, Vice President, SecretaryRotarian of the YearPaul Harris Fellow

Outstanding Citizen of the Year 2005Awarded in recognition of Outstanding Volunteer Service to Jackson County & her People, presented by Jackson County Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture & Jackson County Herald-Tribune